Automatic frequency control system



April '20, 1954 Filed March 4, 1946 J. L; SCHULTZ AUTOMATIC FREQUENCY CONTROL SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet l I6 I I5 SOURCE AMP'LIFIER ognsc TOR OUTPUT VOLTAGE menus/v0? F f rm:

VOLTA GE Inventor: Jack L. Schultz is Attorney,

April 20, 1954 J. L. SCHULTZ AUTOMATIC FREQUENCY CONTROL SYSTEM I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1946 F RERUE NCY FREQUENCY FREQUENCY Inventor: Jack 1... Se hultz,

l-lis Attorney.

p 20, 1954 J. L. SCHULTZ 2,676,256

AUTOMATIC FREQUENCY CONTROL SYSTEM Filed 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 RESYONANT ELEMENT DETECTOR CONTROLLER T a 88 Z E 5.6. i

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Jack L.Schultz,

H is Attorney.

April 20, 1954 J. L. SCHULTZ AUTOMATIC FREQUENCY CONTROL SYSTEM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. n.

Filed March 4, 1946 AWPL mm Maw/v 0 OSC'ILLATOR FREQUENCY l l I I Inventor: Jack L. Schultz,

His Attorney.

J. L. SCHULTZ AUTOMATIC FREQUENCY CONTROL SYSTEM April 20, 1954' 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 4, I946.

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Fig. I8. '77! TIME Inventor Jack L. Schultz,

His Attorney.

Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC FREQUENCY CONTROL SYSTEM Jack L. Schultz, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York 1 Claim.

This invention relates to means for controlling the frequency of an oscillation generator and more particularly to means for maintaining this frequency at a predetermined value.

In radio systems it is often necessary to generate oscillations ofa predetermined frequency or having a predetermined frequency relationship with a second source of oscillations or the natural resonant frequency of a resonant device. In superheterodyne receivers, for example, it is necessary that the local oscillator be controlled with respect to incoming signals in a manner to provide a frequency difference equal to the frequency of maximum output from the intermediate frequency amplifiers. This control is particularly necessary in the case of local oscillators for receivers used in pulse echo systems operating at microwave frequencies as in this apparatus the natural frequency drift of the transmitter and local oscillator is usually large with respect to the band width of the intermediate frequency amplifiers.

It is an object of this invention to provide improved means to control the operating frequency of an oscillator.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means to control the operating frequency of an oscillator to maintain a predetermined relation to the frequency of an auxiliary source of oscillations.

Another object of this invention is to provide improved means to control the frequency of an oscillator to maintain a predetermined relation to the natural resonant frequency of a tuned transmission line, an LC circuit, a cavity resonator, or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide frequency control means suitable for use in connection with a microwave oscillator.

Still another object of this invention is to control the frequency of an oscillator in an improved manner that is accurate and stable but at the same time does not require circuit components of critical value or balanced with respect to each other.

Yet another object of this invention is to control the frequency of an oscillator in an improved manner that does not interfere with the normal functioning of the oscillator as a source of oscillations.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claim. My inven tion itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 illustrates one embodiment of my invention as applied to a microwave oscillator, Figs. 2 to 6 show certain characteristics of the operation of this embodiment of my invention; Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate an alternative embedimentv of my invention wherein the frequency of an oscillator is stabilized with respect to the resonant frequency of a resonant element, Figs. 9 and 10 show certain characteristics of the operation of this embodiment of my invention; Figs. 11 and 12 illustrate a further alternative embodiment of my invention wherein the frequency of an oscillator is stabilized with respect to the resonant frequency of a resonant element, and Figs. 13 to 18 show certain characteristics of the operation of this embodiment of my invention.

In Fig. l a microwave oscillator of the reflex type is shown generally at i. This oscillator includes cathode 2, resonant cavity 3, and reflector electrode l. The resonant cavity 3 comprises a resonant chamber having conducting walls in which are grids 5 and l positioned between the cathode 2 and anode 4. Voltage from unidirectional voltage source 5 connected between resonator 3 and cathode 2 causes electrons from cathode 2 to pass towards grids 6 and 1' located in the walls of cavity resonator 3 opposite cathode 2. Reflector electrode 01 is supplied with a voltage negative relative to resonator 3 from a source of unidirectional voltage 8 and potentiometer i}, through resistances is and ll. This voltage repels electrons i'rom cathode 2 after they pass through grid 1, thereby reflecting a portion of them, particularly the electrons of lower velocity, in the opposite direction through grids ii and I. This action causes the oscillator l to set up a high frequency electric field within resonator 3, the frequency of this field being determined by the dimensions of resonator 3 and the voltage on reflector electrode i. This field, in turn, modulates the velocity of the electrons passing from grid 6 to grid 7, causing these electrons to pass grid l with alternately higher and lower velocities, the lower velocity electrons being repelled by anode d to sustain the oscillations.

Pick-up loop i2 is provided extending through and insulated from the wall of resonator 3 to link the magnetic held within resonator 3' thereby to provide voltage of frequency corresponding to oscillator l.

Oscillations from pick-up loop l2, together with signals from source It, are applied to mixer is, thus producing a beat note having frequency equal to the frequency difference between the oscillations supplied from these two sources. In a radio pulse echo system, source i l may, for example, be the transmitter. This beating may be achieved by several methods well known in the art, one method consisting of simultaneously applying both signals to the input circuit of an electron discharge device or crystal detector. The signals from mixer it are applied to intermediate frequency amplifier i5 tuned to the desired beat frequency. They are then demodulated in detector it. The detector output is then supplied to the frequency control system gener ally shown at H.

It is the purpose of the frequency control system generally shown at H to alter the voltage at reflector electrode 4 of oscillator l in such manner as to cause the signals applied to all plifler i5 to be of frequency producing maximum output therefrom. This performance is achieved by causing the total voltage drop across resistances l and H to aid or oppose the voltage supplied from potentiometer .9 to reflector electrode 4, the increase or decrease always being in a direction to cause oscillator l to operate at a frequency diflering from the input signal frequency by an amount providing maximum output from intermediate frequency amplifier i and detector I6.

The frequency control system H consists of electron discharge devices it and 19 having their cathodes connected to point A through resistances ID and II, these resistances being shunted by capacitors 20 and 2! respectively. Anode voltage is applied to these devices from alternating voltage source 22 connected to the primary winding of transformer 23, the anode voltage applied to each device being 180 degrees out of phase with the anode voltage applied to the other.

Control electrode voltage is applied to devices l8 and i9 through capacitor 24 and resistance 25, the control electrode voltage applied to device 18 being the same as the control electrode voltage applied to device is. This voltage is taken from detector l6 and is of value determined by the response characteristics of mixer 13, am plifier l5, and detector It.

A small alternating voltage of the frequency of source 22 is applied to reflector electrode i of oscillator I from the voltage divider including capacitors 26, 2 and 28. These capacitors are connected in series across the left hand portion of the secondary winding of transformer 23. The value of this voltage is dependent on the relative sizes of these capacitors. Inasmuch as this capacity divider introduces no phase displacement, the voltage at electrode i is in phase With the anode voltage of device it. This varying voltage causes the total reflector voltage at oscillator I to vary above and below the average value established by the voltage selected by potentiometer 8 and the voltage drops across resistances Ill and H. Hence, the frequency of oscillator i varies at the frequency of source 22, the magnitude of the variation depending on the value of alternating Voltage applied to electrode 4 and the characteristics of oscillator l.

The unidirectional voltage applied to reflector electrode 4 consists of two components. One component is the portion of voltage from unidirectional voltage source 8 selected by potentiometer 9, this voltage establishing the negative D.-C. potential at the cathode of device i8. If no voltage drop exists across resistances it and II, this voltage equals the negative reflector voltage. The second component of reflector voltage is that due to the combined voltage drop across resistances ii) and H. This voltage depends on the current flow through these resistances and is developed in a manner described in further detail hereinafter. Briefly, however, when the frequency of oscillations of oscillator i differs from the frequency of oscillations from source M by the frequency of maximum response of intermediate frequency amplifier it, the volt age drops in resistances iii and I i are equal and opposite, thereby producing no net voltage at reflector electrode d. On the other hand if the frequency of oscillator l is above or below this optimum value, the voltage drops in resistances H! and H are not equal and a net voltage difference tending to cause oscillator i to return to the desired frequency is developed.

The operation of frequency control system Il may be understood best by reference to Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. In Fig. 2, curve 33 represents the output voltage characteristic of mixer l3 and intermediate frequency amplifier l5, this output voltage being plotted against input frequency. This curve is a conventional amplifier selectivity curve, having maximum value at fre quency ft and reduced value at frequencies other than in. It will be understood, of course, that while the frequency scale of Fig. 2 represents the frequency of oscillator l, the actual frequency of output voltage from mixer i3 is the difference frequency between this value and oscillations from source it. As shown on the curve, the output voltage change is very nearly symmetrical from small frequency deviations from it. The alternating voltage applied to the reflector electrode d (Fig. 1) from source 22 is shown at curve as, Fig. 2. This voltage causes the frequency of oscillator l to vary above and below the aver age frequency established by unidirectional voltage from source 8. For the condition wherein the unidirectional voltage component at reflector electrode 4 causes oscillator i to operate at a frequency differing from the frequency of signals at source it by frequency in, the actual operating frequency varies in accordance with curve 35, Fig. 2. In Fig. 2, the time scale of curve L l corresponds with the time scale of curve 29. The resulting output voltage from amplifier i5 is shown in curve 34, the voltage scale in this curve corresponding with the voltage scale of curve 30 and the abscissa being time. From this curve it is evident that the output voltage of amplifier $5 varies at twice the frequency of the variations in curve 3i and has maximum amplitude at the instant of zero time on the curves.

If the unidirectional voltage applied to reflector electrode d from source 3 is such as to cause oscillator i to operate at a frequency of f1, the frequency of oscillator l varies as shown in curve 32. The corresponding output voltage variation from amplifier i5 is shown in curve 35. Simi larly if the unidirectional reflector voltage causes oscillator l to operate about frequency f2 as shown in curve 33, the output voltage from amplifler i5 varies in accordance With curve 36. It is evident that curves 35 and 36 are similar except that a degree phase relationship exists between their fundamental frequency components.

Detector l6 produces Output voltage varying in accordance with the amplitude of the envelope of output voltage from amplifier l5. Due to the presence of condenser 24, only the alternating components of this output voltage are applied to the control electrode or devices wand; F9; The. resulting control electrode voltages: are shown. in Fig. 3,. curves 3t, 38, and 39 these. ourvescorrespond ng with curves 34:, 35,. and 36.01 Fig. 2 respectively. The voltage from. source 22.. applied to device it. is shown in curve. 40,. this curve corresponding to curve 29, Fig. 2. Thevoltage;ap..- plied to the. anode of device I9; is shown in curve i! and has a 180. degree. phase displacement with. respect. to curve. ltl. It will. thus: be observed that at frequency ii a. voltage is suppliedto both grids of devices 18. and 19.: which has. the same. frequency and phaseas the: anode voltage of. device 58; while at. frequency is. the grid voltage. has the same. fundamental frequency but is re.- versed in phase, being. now in. phase with theanodevoltage of device. L9;

The. values. of. resistances. l0. and H, the. voltage. of source 22:, and the.- capacity of condensers 2.0 and El are so chosen that, devices: It. and l9:com.- pletelycharge these. condensers during. each cycle of source 22. That is, the current flow through device 183, for instance, is sufiiciently large to charge condenser 20. to. its full value before. the voltage of source. 2'2v becomes..substantially less than. the peak value. Hence, capacitors 2t, and 2|. are charged successively to the full voltage required. for; cut-off of space, current flow in. devices it. and 19' due to thepresence of these condensers between. the. grid and cathode of the respective discharge. tubes. If the control electrode voltage toone. of these devices is negative at. the instant of charging, therequired volt.- age across the corresponding condenser will be small or even. zero. inasmuchas the controlelectrode voltage produces part: of. the necessary bias. On the other. hand, if the. control. electrode is, positive. at the, instant. of charging. greater voltage, across. the, corresponding con.- denser. is required to achieve. cut-off bias between the cathode and grid inasmuch as this voltage must. compensate for the voltage applied to the control electrode.

The. operation of device It maybe understood more readily by reference to. Fig. 4; In this. fig.- ure, curve 52. shows thevalue of control electrode. voltage applied to, this device. at. the. peak positive value. of curve 40, Fig... 3.. as. a function of frequency, this value corresponding. to. the instant. at which device. 18. develops. cut-off bias. Dashed line 43 shows the cut-off bias required between the cathode. andv control electrode of device IS. The voltage-difference. betweencurve t2 and line 43. corresponds to the, voltage. reached by capacitor 20 andis plotted in curve. 44. This voltage is zero when curve 42. goes below line 43. for the reason that no current flow can take place. under this condition. It is evident that as frequency is increased, this voltage decreases. Inasmuch as the voltage across resistance is equal invalue to that across; capacitor 20, curve M also represents the voltage across that resistance, The. time constant of. the. RC combination of capacitor 20 and resistance, l0 ismade sufficiently long to cause. substantially constant voltage. across resistance l0v betweensuccessive cycles. of source 22, thereby providing a substantially. uniform voltage across, that. resistance which varies only in accordance with changes in operating frequency of oscillator I.

Fig. 5 showscurves. similar to. those of Fig. 4 but corresponding to theoperation. of device [9. In this case, the-effective grid voltages operating. on the device are those atthe instant of maximum. positive voltage of curve 41-, Fig. 3,v and are plotted in curve 45. The cut-ofi voltage is shown in dashed line 46 and the resulting voltage across capacitor 2| and resistance ll shown in curve 41. It is evident that the voltage across resistance I l increaseswith increasing frequency, a tendency opposite to that of the voltage drop across resistance It.

As far as the reflector electrode of oscillator i is concerned, the total effective voltage due to resistances It and l l is the difference voltage be tween the voltage drop acros resistance ill and the voltage drop across. resistance I. This re sults from the fact that as the. circuit between source and reflector electrode l is traversed, resistance it has a voltage of the same direction as source 8, whereas resistance It has a voltage of opposite direction. The combination of these. voltages from the standpointof reflector electrode. is shown in 6. Inthis figure, curve 48 corresponds to curve Ml of Fig. 4 and curve 39 corresponds to the inverse of curve 4?, Fig. 5. The latter curve is inverted so that the voltages of curves is and as may be directly added to show the total voltage contributed. by resistances it and ii to the voltage of reflector electrode t. This combined voltage is shown in curve 5}). It is evident from this curve that the effective negative voltage at reflector electrode. lis. greatly decreased as the frequency increases andv that the voltage change tends to besymmetrical with re spect to frequency.

Curve 5 i, Fig. 6, shows the relationshipbetween the operating frequency of oscillator i and the voltage applied to reflector electrode i. In this case a relatively small voltage change is required to produce the frequency changes shown on the curve. It should be observed that the Zero voltage values shown in Fig. 6 correspond with the unidirectional voltage from source 8 required to oper ate oscillator I at frequency f0 and that the voltage actually shown corresponds only to variations from this value.

The performance of my invention in effect corresponds to that of a feedback system with respect to frequency. That is, any effect causing the frequency of oscillator l to deviate results in a change in reflector voltage correspondingto.

many times the actual frequency deviation. This reduces the frequency deviation to a negligible value and causes the system to operate-at a fi e quency corresponding verly nearly that of maximum output from amplifier l5.

While I have described the operation of fre quency control system l-i for the case of a bal-- anced system wherein all components in the sir-- cult of devices laand ware-of equal value, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that such components need not be used to obtain satisfac tory performance of the-system. In factcomplete elimination of device l 8 or deviceit will not essarily prevent satisfactory system operation. The principal effect ofhaving an unbalance as between these circuits is toalter slightly the fre-- quency of oscillator l and the frequency range over which the control isoperative rather than to cause any change in the-control for deviations in this frequency.

One of the advantages of this invention is that oscillator l is caused to operate at a predator" mined frequency above or below thefrequency of oscillations from source it; the oscillator operat ing at a frequency above the frequency of oscillations: from. source H3? for the. case of the connection shown. in. Fig. 1;. and. the; oscillator oper 7. ating below the frequency of oscillations from source it for the case wherein condenser 26 is connected to the anode of device is. This results from the fact that with oscillator below the frequency of signals from source 14 increased relicctor voltage decreases the difference or intermediate frequency and with oscillator i above the frequency of signals from source it decreased reflector voltage decreases the difference or intermediate frequency.

Hence, it is not Only possible to cause oscillator to operate at the desired frequency difference with respect to source It, but it is also certain whether the oscillator frequency is above or below that of source hi. If undesired signals may be introduced at source it this aids in preventing false control with respect to such frequency. If the system is used to generate a desired frequency for calibrating purposes, this feature prevent an ambiguity in the frequency obtained.

While mixer it, intermediate frequency amplifier detector It and system :i have been shown as separate units in the drawing of Fig. 1, the various functions of these units may be combined to reduce the total number of units required. For instance, mixer it may have a fro-- quency response characteristic similar to that of curve 383, Fig. 2, and provide output voltage of such magnitude that amplifier it may be elimihated. Similarly, devices 13 and is may be made to operate as detectors as well as control devices, thereby elim nating detector it.

In an alternate embodiment of this invention, source it may be an antenna sensitive to radiant energy of a particular frequency range. In this case system I? will cause oscillator i to operate at a frequency giving maximum output from intermediate frequency amplifier it in the same manner as above described but in addition the signals from amplifier it or detector 56 may be used to operate a converting system to reproduce the intelligence contained therein. The system then acts both as a receiver and as a frequency control device.

The magnitude of frequency modulation of oscillator i introduced by alternating voltage from source 22 determines to some degree the performance of this invention. If, for instance this frequency modulation is completely lacking, no control is achieved. On the other hand, if the frequency modulation is excessive in amplitude, oscillator i would have limited usefulness by reason of these large variations. In addition, the control achieved by system i? would be limited as the slope of curve 30, Fig. 2, becomes small for large frequency deviations from the frequency of maximum output. In general, the frequency modulation of oscillator i should be sufficient to cause the deviation tocorrespond approximately with the half-power points on the output curve of detector it. That is with unidirectional voltage from source 8 of such magnitude as to cause oscillator l to operate on the frequency giving maximum output from detector Hi, the output on the maximum frequency deviation associated with the alternating component of reflector voltage should be around 70 per cent of the maximum value.

In the application of this invention to a radio type pulse-echo system, signals from source it can conveniently originate in the transmitter of the system. An additional coupling loop is then provided in resonator 3 to couple oscillations of oscillator l to the mixer stage of the receiver, the equipment shown in Fig. 1 having no relation to 8. the receiver except as a means of obtaining local oscillator voltage of optimum frequency. Inasmuch as signals at source l4 originate in the transmitter, these signals consist of recurrent high energy pulses and are not continuous as is assumed in the above description of the operation of the system.

Inasmuch as the time constants of resistance H! and capacitor 29 and resistance 1 i and capacitor H are very long with respect to the pulse interval, the control voltage applied to reflector electrode 6 is unaffected by the pulses and frequency stabilization is obtained as described. If, in addition, it is desired to render the pulse echo system relatively immune to interfering signals that might appear in source I l, the voltage of source 22 may be pulsed in accordance with the transmitter signals, thereby rendering the frequency stabilizing system inoperative unless the transmitter is operating.

In applying this invention to a radio type pulse-echo system wherein a rotating structure is used in the antenna system it is desirable that the frequency of source 22 exceed the frequency of rotation of that structure. The usual effect of rotating the antenna structure is to alter periodically the load on the transmitter, thereby causing a certain amount of frequency pulling. This results in frequency modulation of the transmitter at the frequency of rotation. To avoid effects of this frequency modulation it is desirable to apply a voltage from source 22 which has a sufiiciently high frequency to cause the frequency of oscillator i to follow these periodic frequency disturbances and thereby maintain maximum output from the receiver at all times. This fast circuit operation can be obtained without causing the voltages across resistances it and ii to vary between cycles of source 22 because the time interval between these cycles is correspondingly lowered.

An alternate embodiment of this invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 7, 8, 9, l0, and 11. The principal differences between this embodiment and that previously described resides in the use of a resonant element as a fre quency determining device and modifications in the control system to maintain oscillator frequency at a desired value with respect to the natural oscillating frequency of the resonant element.

In the block diagram of Fig. 7, I represents the oscillator desired to be controlled as to oper ating frequency and 52 represents a resonant element having natural resonant frequency of value corresponding to the desired frequency of oscillater i. Part of the output voltage of oscillator I is fed to element 52, thereby causing alternating currents, voltages, electric fields, and magnetic fields in element 52 of intensity correspond ing to the relative value of the actual frequency of operation of oscillator l and the natural fre quency of resonant element 52. Hence, resonant element 52 causes energy how in accordance with frequency, maximum energy flow taking place at resonant frequency and less energy flow at other frequencies. Detector 53 is connected to element 52 in such manner as to produce a unidirectional output voltage varying in accordance with the envelope of variations in one of the above-listed characteristics of element 52. Oscillator i is of a type wherein the frequency of oscillation depends on an applied voltage, this voltage being primarily derived from source 55, Fig. 7. In addition,. an alternating. modulating voltage is :erence to Fig. 1.

applied to oscillator .I from modulator 56 and a "unidirectional correction voltage applied from controller 54. Controller 54 is fed with voltage from modulator 55 and detector 53 and provides output voltage corresponding to the relationship between these two voltages, this voltage being applied to oscillator I ma manner to cause that unit to operate at a mean frequency correspond- .ing to the natural resonant frequency of circuit 52.

The operation of this form of my invention will now be described with respect to Fig. 3 which shows a more detailed circuit diagram of the system as it may be used to control the frequency of a microwave oscillator whichmay, for

example, be operating at 2000 megacyclcs per second. hi Fig. 8, oscillator i is of the reflex type using a cavity resonator and is similar in construction to that described in detail with ref- As explained with reference to Fig. l, the frequency of operation of oscillator -l depends not only on the dimensions of the cavity resonator and the tube electrodes but also on the voltage applied to reflector electrode 4.

Frequency modulation of oscillator l is provided by voltage from modulator 55. This unit vmayconsist of any one-of many oscillators and is 5.3. The latter network consists of a plurality of condensers 64 and resistances .55 arranged to provide a more than 180 degree phase shift between the anode and control electrode potentials of device 5'! at the desired frequency of oscillation.

In a microwave radar system, this frequency might be 250 kilocycles per second. Modulator 55, therefore, acts as a phase shift oscillator at this frequency and produces sine wave alternating voltage of 250 kilocycles per second. This voltage, taken through resistance '66, and capacitor 51, is applied to the reflector electrode l of "oscillator I to cause the frequency of that oscillator to vary about the value established by the unidirectional potential at that electrode.

In addition, output voltage from oscillator 5 is applied to controller 54, through capacitor 68.

A substantially constant unidirectional voltage component is applied 'to reflector electrode 5 of oscillator i by D. C. reflector supply source 55.

This source may, for "example, comprise a battery 69 connected to a potentiometer 1c, the latter having a moving contact across which any desired voltage may be obtained. Voltage from the moving contact of potentiometer Til is taken through resistances H and '12 to the reflector electrode 4 of oscillator 3. Source 55 therefore provides an adjustable unidirectional voltage of substantially constant magnitude at the reflector electrode of oscillator I.

The resonant element '52 in a microwave system may comprise a resonant cavity such as that shown generally at 73, Fig. 8. Energy is coupled into this cavity from oscillator l by loops i2 and 14. Energy is coupled out of this cavity by coupling loop 75 .and applied to detector 53. This detectormay comprise crystal l6, resistance H, .and capacitor is, the voltage across resistance ll being determined by the value of the voltage induced in loop i5.

It will be understood, of course, that units 52 and 53 may be combined to form a single unit, crystal 56 being placed at a point in cavity l3 wherein an electrostatic field is developed and capacitor 18 and resistance ll connected directly across the crystal.

In an alternate construction of resonant element 52, a transmission line may lead from oscillator l to detector 53 and element 52 connected to the line in such manner as to absorb energy except when oscillations correspond tothe natural frequency of the element.

Controller 5d, includes amplifiers i9 and and electron discharge device 8|. These amplihere are of conventional design and amplify the alternating components of voltage across resistance fl. Inasmuch as the voltage in loop 15 depends on the frequency of oscillator l, the voltage at resistance ll varies in magnitude in accordance with the frequency modulation produced by modulator 55.

Signals from amplifier as are applied to the control electrode of device 8! through coupling capacitor 82. Voltage from modulator 58 is applied to an auxiliary control electrode of the same device through coupling capacitor 58 which is sufficiently large to pass this voltage without significant phase shift. Capacitor 83 is connected between the anode and cathode of device 8i and is chosen to have capacity suflicient to provide a relatively long time constant as compared to the period of oscillations from modulator 55. Resistance 8d and capacitor 85 provide grid bias for device 8! in the conventional manner. Unidirectional bias voltage is applied to the screen grid of device 8! by battery 85 and potentiometer 81, the battery having polarity such as to cause the screen to be positive with respect to the cathode. In addition, battery 85 applies sufficient negative voltage to the cathode of device Si to cause this electrode to be negative with respect to the anode by an amount providing optimum operation of that device.

In operation, voltages applied to the control and injector grids of device 8! combine to cause current flow therethrough in accordance with the instantaneous values of the combined voltage at the two grids. Condenser 83 smooths this current flow to cause the voltage drop across resistance H to be substantially constant as compared with the period of modulator 55. Hence, the unidirectional voltage applied to reflector electrode 4 of oscillator l is varied in accordance with the relationship of the modulating voltage from modulator 56 and the envelope of induced voltage in loop #5, thereby causing the mean frequency about which oscillator l is frequency modulated to vary in accordance with this value. Of course the voltage in loop 15 i dependent on the relation between the frequency of oscillator l and the resonant frequency of the structure #3 as was described in connection with the curves of Fig. 2 and Fig. 1.

In the circuit of controller 54, the volta e of battery 86, the positive terminal of which is grounded, is chosen sufiicient to cause the anode of device 8! to be positive with respect to the cathode despite the negative voltage applied by source 55. If, for example. it is desired to operate device 8! with 300 volts between the cathode and anode at zero space current and the voltage from source 55 is 39!] volts, source 86 is designed to develop 600 volts. Inasmuch as current flow through device 8! is from the anode to the cathode, increasing values of this current flow cause the 56 increases, the negative voltage at the reflected electrode 3 of oscillator i is increased and the frequency of operation of oscillator l accordingly raised.

Operation of the embodiment of this invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8 can best be understood with reference to Figs. 2, 3, and 9. The voltage across resistance ll, Fig. 8, varies with oscillator frequency in accordance with curve fit, Fig. 2. That is, at a particular value of frequency of oscillator l the output voltage is a maximum and for small deviations from this frequency less output voltage is produced. Similarly, the voltage from modulator 5G varies in accordance with curve 29, Fig. 2, and the resulting frequency of oscillator i in accordance with curves 3!, 32, and 33 when the direct component of reflector voltage at oscillator l causes operation about frequencies f0, f1, and f2, respectively. Hence, the voltage applied to amplifier lil for these three values of the unidirectional component of reflector voltage consists of the alternating components of curves 3d, 35, and 35, Fig. 2. These voltages are shown in curves 3'5, 38, and -39, Fig. and the correspending voltage from modulator E6 in curve it, Fig. 3. It is evident therefore, that the voltage applied to the control electrode of device 8! varies in accordance with curves 3?, 38, and 39 as the value of mean frequency of oscillator i is changed and that the voltage of the auxiliary control electrode of device 35 varies in accordance with curve to regardless of the mean frequency of oscillator i.

In one method of operating device 8 i, Fig. 8, the value of auxiliary electrode voltage from modulator 55 is chosen to have a very great effect on space current in device iii as compared to the voltage applied to the control electrode by amplifier 8%. In this case, device 3! will be biased to cut-off by the charge on condenser 85 except at the instant of maximum voltage from modulator 55. The anode current low on the positive peaks of that voltage then varies in accordance with the voltage applied to the control electrode at that instant, a value that may be obtained from curves 3?, 38, and 3t, Fig. 3. The resulting peak current flow then varies in accordance with curve 88, Fig. 9, the value of current decreasing with increased frequency of oscillator 5. Since this current flow tends to make the anode of device 8i more negative with respect to the cathode, the voltage at reflector l varies as shown in curve E55, Fig. 9. Inasmuch as the capacity of condenser 83 is chosen to provide a long time constant as compared with the period of oscillations from modulator 58, the voltage shown in curve 8% is substantially constant with time and appears as a substantially constant voltage at the reflector electrode i of oscillator l. Curve 95, Fig. 9, shows the variation in operating frequency of oscillator i a the negative reflector electrode voltage is increased. It is evident that the reflector voltage change introduced by the action of the regulating system (curve 89, Fig. 9) is much greater than the reflector voltage change required to produce that frequency change. Hence the system operates to maintain constant the frequency of oscillator i.

In an alternate method of operating device 8!, Fig. 8, the values of auxiliary control electrode voltage from modulator 56 and control electrode voltage from amplifier 8B are chosen to maintain device Si in a conducting condition during a substantial portion of the cycle of voltage from modulator 5B. In this case, the current .v through device 8! will vary in accordance or ii the combined values of these two voltages. By reference to Fig. 3, it is evident that with oscillator I operating at mean frequency f2 (oscillator l operating below the desired frequency) these two voltages are in phase and accordingly combine to produce relatively large current flow through the entire positive portion of the cycle. With oscillator 3 operating about mean frequency in, curve 31, Fig. 3, is negative over part of the positive half cycle of curve to and reaches no large positive voltage during other portions of this half cycle. Hence, the current how in de vice Si is of lower average value than for the case of frequency f2. Similarly curve 38 (corresponding to frequency ii) is negative througln out the entire positive half cycle of curve and produces still lower average current flow. Inasmuch as condenser 83 causes the current now through resistance ll to be a substantially constant value varying in accordance with the average current fiow through device 82, the voltage drop across that resistance is substantially constant with time and increase with frequency to produce a negative reflector voltage change siniilar to that shown in curve 89, Fig. 9. Viewed differently, the voltage across condenser 53 can be regarded as determined by the integral of the combined voltage from amplifier fill and modulator 56, thereby controlling the negative reflector as shown in curve 89, Fig. 9. Since the variation in operating frequency of oscillator l with changing values of reflector voltage follows curve Fig. 9, it is evident that the regulating system causes the operating frequency of oscillator l to be stabilized.

In the modification of my invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the resonant element 52 is coupled to oscillator l. Inasmuch as this resonant element has reactance at frequencies other than the resonant frequency (in) ,this coupling tends to influence the operation of oscillator i. If the variation in this reactance is very great with respect to the operating frequency of oscillator l, the frequency of this oscillator will tend to be unstable, and control will accordingly be difficult to achieve. This effect may be avoided by the use of a resonant element having medium of ficiency or Q. That is, the ratio of stored energy to the losses per cycle should be chosen at a medium rather than a high value. In this case, the variation in reactance of element 52 as seen by oscillator i will not begreat as the fre quency of oscillator l varies. Fig. 10 shows graphically this effect, curve 9! showing the large reactancevariation of a high Q resonant ele ment at frequencies close to resonant frequency and curve 92 showing the reactance variation of a lower efficiency resonant circuit over the frequency range. Medium Q per ormance may be obtained in a resonant circuit employing lumped inductances and capacitances by introducing resistance into the circuit. In a cavity resonator, plating the inside surfaces with a low conductivity metal will achieve this result.

It is further desirable in the automatic frequency control system of Fig. '7 to adjust coupling of resonant element 5.2 to oscillator l in a manner that provides a reasonable value of insertion loss. If the couplings are increased beyond a certain point, thereby decreasing the insertion loss, the influence of the cavity on oscillator performancebecomes excessiveand stable performance becomes-very difiicultto achieve.

The frequency control achieved by the above described modification of this invention is dependent mainly on the stability of resonant. element 2 which serve to establish reference frequency. In many applications, such as the frequency control of microwave oscillators, thisfeature is of considerable importance for itpermits the use of a resonant structure as a frequency establishing device. Such a structure may, for example, consist of a resonant cavity constructed of some readily machined metal and so designed that the various parts move in response to temperature changes in such manner as to compensate for the effect of these changes on resonant frequency. Devices of this type are well known in the art and have been manufactured in quantity production. Thus. the frequency of the oscillator is stabilized in a simple and efficient manner without the use of expensive and'cornplicated equipment.

A further embodiment of this invention is shown in Fig. 11. This embodiment is similar to that shown in Figs. '7 and 8 in that a resonant element is used as a source of reference frequency but differs therefrom in the method of causing the frequency of oscillator I to correspond with the natural resonant frequency of the resonant element. The block diagram of Fig. 1'1 differs from Fig. '7 in that controller 93 is connected to amplifier 94 which in turn operates trigger circuit $5. The latter a blocking oscillator modifies the operation of device 95 in'such manner as to cause the voltage applied to oscillator I to vary in a manner (presently to be described) so as to maintain constant the frequency of oscillator 5.

Having outlined the basic elements of this modification of my invention, the detailed features thereof will now be described withreference to Fig. 12 which shows detailed circuit diagrams of the various components shown in Fig. 11 disposed in operative relationship] Oscillator I, resonant element 52, detector 53 and modulator 5c, are shown as identical in construction to the corresponding components shown in Fig. Salthough equivalent devices might, of course; be used.

Controller 93 includes electron discharge device 9'! having its anode connected to ground through positive voltage source 98 and resistance 99 and its cathode connected to ground'through resistance I tit Two control electrodes are provided in device 91, one being connected through condenser ID! todetector 53 and the otherbeing connected to modulator 56. Inasmuch as the space current through device 52? varies in accordance with the combined potential of the two control electrodes, the voltage drop across resistance 9e varies with both of these voltages. The alternating component of this voltage. is apto amplifier 94, which includes electron discharge device 162 having itscontrol electrode connected to controller 93 through'capacitor sea. The anode of device i232- isconnected to ground through resistance IE4 and positive voltage source 255 whereas the cathode i connected to ground through resistance I66. Inasmuch as increased positive voltage at the control electrode of device Hi2 causes increased space current to flow therethrough the voltage drop "across resistance It'd increases withv increased positive potential at' that Hence; the positive "potential of the anode of device 184 decreaseswith increased positive voltage from controller 93.

.14 The-output of amplifier-594 is applied to trigger circuit 95 which includes gas discharge device IN. "The control electrode of device I0! is connected to the anodeof device I62 through coupling capacitor I08. The anode of device It! is connected through resistances Hi9 and H0 to ground whereas the cathode isconnect'ed through source of negative potential III to ground. Grid leak resistance II3 is connected between the cathode and control electrode'of device It! and by-pass capacitor H4 is connected across source iIl, thereby to cause the control electrode of device I01 to vary above'and below'the potential of the cathode as determined by the alternating voltage across resistance l'ilt. Condenser I I2 is connected across 'device Ill! and resistance Hi5, thereby to-be charged to the full potential of source II I when device 391' isnot conducting and when there is no voltage drop acrossresistance H0. The time constant of this charge: is'determined by resistance IIG. "When the combined voltages applied to the-control electrodes of device '31 in controller 93 exceed a predeterminedvalue, voltage is applied to the control electrode of device IGI in sufficient amount to cause that device to conduct, thereby discharging condenser l I2. Following this discharge, condenser H2 is charged at the time constant determined by resistance Hll'and device I6! is restored 'to the initial operating condition.

Blocking oscillator 96 comprises an. electron discharge device H5, the anode of which is connected through one winding of transformer H8 positive voltage source II! to ground. The high frequency components of alternating voltage at the anode-of device H5 are shunted to ground by condenser I I8. The cathode of device I I5 is connected to ground through negative voltage source II-9 bypassed by condenser I29. Condenser I2I' connects the cathode of device H5 through the other winding of transformer I It; to the control electrode of that device. In operation, when current flow commences to build up in device H5, transformer H6 causes the resistsince-condenser combination comprising capacitor IZI and resistances Ilil and I22 to develop bias far beyond cut-ofi'of device I I5. Condenser IZI then discharges through resistances S22 and H9 until the bi'as becomes less than cut-off at which time a current pulse again flows in device H5 and the cycle is repeated. Condenser I30 prevents the generationof high'frequency vol age across source HQ during this process. The resultant"voltage' across capacitor'mi is of sawtooth shapeQhaving a rising portion determined by the time constant of capacitor I 2! and resistances H6 and IE2, and repeating at a frequency determined by this time constant.

The method'of varying the peak voltage applied from trigger-95- in accordance with the frequency of oscillator I' may be understood by re? erence toi. the curves of Figs; 2, 13, 14,.and 15. As explained in connection with the modification of this invention shown in Fig. 7, curve 34,.Fig. 2, represents the output voltage of detector'iit when operation is about fequency fa. The output of detector 53. which corresponds to the envelope of these oscillations,- is applied through condenser lei to o-necontrol electrode of device 9?, this voltageheing shown. in curve: {'2 3;.13. The corra- Y spondmg Vflltage applied fromemodulatontlato the. other control: electrode otdevice 9! is shown income 22 1,- 13.1 The total'eflective voltage causinganode. current device tl ancl hence establishing the voltage at the control electrode of device I! varies in accordance with the sum of these voltages, this curve being substantially as shown in curve I25. Under these conditions, the voltage I25 is a distorted wave, as shown, because the two component waves have different fundamental frequencies. In Fig. 14, the conditions when oscillator I is operating about frequency ii are shown, curve I26 being the alter nating component of curve 35, Fig. 2, and curve I2? being the voltage from modulator 55. The combination of these two voltages is substantially as shown in curve I28, Fig. 14. Under these particular conditions, it will be observed. that all waves have the same fundamental frequency and the resultant wave I28 is of low amplitude and of opposite phase to the voltage wave I2? from modulator B. In like fashion, Fig. 15 shows the conditions at device 9'! for operation about frequency f2, Fig. 2, curve I29 being the voltage applied to one control electrode of device 9?, voltage I30 being the voltage applied to the other control electrode and voltage I3I representing the combined effects of these voltages insofar as current flow through device 91 is concerned.

Line I32 is drawn in Figs. 13, 14, and 15 at a voltage value corresponding to that required to cause device III'I, of trigger $5 to commence conduction. This line is on the positive side of the curves of Figs. 13, 14, and 15 because of the phase inverting action of amplifier El i. From the figures, it is evident that device I Ill is caused to conduct only under the conditions shown in 15; i. e., when oscillator I is operating about frequency is so that the resultant wave I3I has the same fundamental frequency and phase as wave I39 from modulator 5S, and also has sufficient amplitude for the positive peaks to exceed the bias I32 on the grid of device IIl'I.

While only three operating frequencies have been considered in the above description it will be evident that the peak effective voltage operating on trigger device I01 varies in accordance with the mean frequency of oscillator I, this voltage increasing as the frequency of oscillator I decreases. Inasmuch as conduction of devic iIll causes the negative unidirectional voltage at the reflector electrode 4 to increase in a manner to be described in detail hereafter, any tendency for the frequency of oscillator I to decrease is counteracted by an increased potential at reflector electrode 4. This increased potential tends to increase the frequency of oscillator I and thereby to maintain constant the frequency of oscillator i.

The operation of trigger 95 and blocking oscillator 95 in controlling the unidirectional voltage applied to oscillator I will now be described. For Purposes of this description, reference is first made to Fig. 16 which shows typical circuit values for the principal portions of these units. When device I ill is not conducting, no current flow takes place through resistance IIIl due to this device and it therefore has no influence on the operation of the blocking oscillator comprisin device I I5. The potential at the common connection of resistance I22 and condenser I2I, and hence the potential of reflector electrode 4 of oscillator I, then varies in accordance with sawtooth curve I58 of Fig. 17. In this figure, the negative cathode potential at device II5 due to battery use is shown by dashed line 133 and the cut-off potential of the control electrode of device I I5 by dashed line I34, this potential being negative with respect to potential I33 by the cut-off bias of device I I5. In normal operation, current flow through device H5 will build up until cut-0d bias is reached at which time the bias will suddenly become negative in an amount far exceedins the cut-off voltage. This negative voltage is shown at line I35, Fig. 1'7. From this negative voltage, capacitor I2I discharges towards the cathode potential as established by source lit. the time constant of this discharge being principally determined by the relative capacitance of capacitor =i2I and the resistance of resistors HQ and I22. In a practical application of his invention, it is desirable to use a total value of resistances II!) and I22 of approximately 2.5 megohms and a value for capacitor I2I of approximately 0.25 microfarad, giving a time constant of the order of /2 second. When condenser I2I discharges to the cut-01f voltage of device H5. conduction again commences and the condenser is again charged to the voltage of line ii -5. Hence, in the absence of conduction through device It], the voltage applied to the reflector electrode of oscillator I comprises a sawtooth wave shown in Fig. 17.

Fig. 18 shows the efi'ect of conduction in device it)?! on the voltage applied to oscillator I. Until time a, Fig. 18, the reflector voltage is shown for the case of device I0? in the non-conducting condition and consists of a portion of the curve I55 of Fig. 17. At time a, device It? is suddenly rendered conducting by a positive voltage pulse ap plied to its control electrode, this action taking place by reason of the frequency of oscillator i reaching too high a value. At this instant, condenser Iii! is suddenly discharged and point B (the common point of resistances I I9 and I22) is reduced to substantially thepotential at the negative terminal of source III. In a practical system, this voltage might be 300 volts. Condenser I I 2 then charges through resistance I it at a relatively rapid rate in comparison with the time constant of capacitor HI and resistances lit and I22, thus producing a voltage variation at point B (Fig. 16) as shown in dashed curve I35, Fig. 18. The Voltage across condenser ifZI does not follow this voltage exactly by reason of the time constant of that condenser and resistance I22. Hence, the curve I37, Fig. 18, makes a dip or scallop which returns the voltage across condenser IZI to its previous value in a time corresponding to the charging time of condenser Ii2. If at this instant device It? is again made conducting, another scallop is executed immediately. As this successively happens, the unidirectional voltage applied to reflector electrode i varies as shown between time a and time b, Fig. 18. As the Voltage variations of curve I3? are of small magnitude as compared to the average voltage value, a substantially constant unidirectional voltage is supplied from device as to oscillator i under this condition. If, for instance, the frequency of oscillator I increases to the point wherein device III! in trigger Q5 is rendered oonducting at each cycle of modulator iii), the voltage across condenser I I2 goes to Zero before this condenser recharges. This is shown after point b, Fig. 18, curve I38 representing the voltage at the common connection of resistances ill? and I2; (point B). As successive pulses are applied to the control electrode of device IN, the voltage shown in curve I31 progressively decreases, thereby increasing the negative reflector voltage at oscillator I and causing a frequency increase of that oscillator, an effect opposite to that required to cause conduction of device I ll. .t point e, 18, the conducting pulses applied to device iill are stopped. At this time the voltage curve I31 decreases in magnitude until at point (i device I07 again is rendered conducting and stable operation renewed.

From the above description it is evident that oscillator I will swing in a direction tending to cause conduction of device I07 until conduction of that device takes place at a rate maintaining the negative voltage applied to the reflector electrode of oscillator I at an average voltage corresponding to the frequency necessary to produce that rate of conduction of device 401. Hence, the entire system can be stable only at that frequency and if any event tends to cause oscillator l to change in frequency, a corresponding change in the reflector voltage takes place, this change being in direction and magnitude to maintain the required conduction of device I01. For this reason the entire system adjusts itself to maintain substantially constant the frequency of oscillator I.

In general, it is desirable to causemodulator 55 to operate at a relatively high frequency as compared to the frequency of oscillator 96. With the above-described constants this may, for example, be 800 cycles per second. In other words, the additional charge on condenser l2l, taking lar embodiments of my invention, it will of place in the interval between two successive cycles 7 of modulator 55, is made relatively small. This reduces the magnitude of scallops shown between time a and time b, Fig. 18, to a negligible value so that the voltage applied to reflector electrode 4 of oscillator 1 is substantially constant except for the varying component due to operation of oscillator 56. In addition, it is desirable with the above-described circuit constants to arrange the circuit constants so that oscillator I operates at the desired frequency when device I97 conducts for about one out of every four cycles of modulator 56. Then the rate at which negative voltage applied to reflector 4 of oscillator l increases when device I01 conducts on each cycle is substantially equal to the rate at which this voltage decreases when device I0! is non-conducting.

The control circuit shown in Fig. 12 may, of course, be applied to control of quantities other than oscillator frequency. If, for example, it is desired to maintain constant voltage at a utilization device, voltage may be applied to that device from condenser 12! and circuits provided to actuate trigger 95 whenever the voltage at that device swings too far in the direction associated with discharge of condenser l2l. Condenser I2! is recharged to a predetermined degree each time trigger 95 is actuated so that the system automatically maintains the voltage at the utilization device at a predetermined value, subject, of course, to the small variations associated with the charging cycles.

course be understood that I do not intend to be limited thereto since various modifications both in the circuit arrangements and in the instrumentalities employed may be made, and I contemplate by the appended claim to cover any such modifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

In a system for comparing two periodic voltages, a pair of electron discharge devices each having an anode, cathode and control electrode, a resistance-capacitance network connected between each of said cathodes and a point of reference potential, a first source of alternating reference voltage of substantially constant amplitude, means to impress voltage from said source between each of said anodes and said point in opposite phase, each of said networks having a relatively long time constant as compared to the period of said voltage, a second source of periodic voltage, means to impress voltage from said second source between each of said control electrodes and said reference point in the same phase, and an output circuit responsive to the peak voltage across said networks in series.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,135,946 Mountjoy Nov. 8, 1938 2,183,399 Heising Dec. 12, 1939 2,217,471 Gulliksen Oct. 8, 1940 2,223,840 Wolff Dec. 3, 1940 2,233,778 Foster Mar. 4, 1941 2,245,685 Koch June 17, 1941 2,294,100 Travis Aug. 25, 1942 2,335,265 Dodington Nov. 30, 1943 2,369,663 Dennis et a1. Feb. 20, 1945 2,404,568 Dow July 23, 1946 2,422,083 Crosby June 10, 1947 2,425,657 Tunick Aug. 12, 1947 2,462,857 Ginzton et al. Mar. 1, 1949 2,475,074

Bradley July 5, 1949 

